5G smartphone market expansion in Asia

The Southeast and South Asian smartphone markets are seeing an expansion of 5G-enabled devices across various price segments.

In India, manufacturers are targeting budget-conscious consumers with 5G models priced under ₹15,000. These devices, such as the POCO M7 5G and Samsung Galaxy F06 5G, prioritize essential connectivity, battery life, and high-refresh-rate displays.

In Thailand and Indonesia, the focus has shifted toward enhanced photography and battery capabilities. Recent hardware launches have introduced more specialized features for photography and gaming. In Thailand and Indonesia, OPPO has launched the A7 Pro Series 5G, which includes the A7 Pro 5G and A7 Pro Max 5G models. This series emphasizes photography with a 50MP ultra-wide selfie camera enhanced by AI framing, while the Max model includes OIS for the front camera. These devices are noted for large battery capacities of up to 10,000mAh.

Other manufacturers are expanding into niche hardware categories. vivo has introduced the vivo Selfie Monitor, a wireless, detachable 3.92-inch AMOLED secondary screen designed to assist vlogging and photography. Additionally, Nubia has released the Neo 5 Max 5G, a ‘Padphone’ that functions as both a smartphone and a gaming tablet. This device features a 7.5-inch high-refresh-rate display, a 7,100 mAh battery with bypass charging, and physical Neo Triggers 5.0 for gaming control.